Form for constructing steps



Nov. 20, 1945. R. o. ZIMNIERMAN 2,389,397

FORM FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS Filed Jime 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor E/ILPH 0. Z/MME/Z MHN,

:Nov. 20, 1945. R. o. ZVIMMYERMAN 2,389,397

FORM FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS Filed June 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 $1? W y .0 O- 0 o 3- 3: EH3 Hi3 wil 3 3 o o 0 o 0 o o o 6 0 Q o 0 o o o o o 0 Q o 0' o o o o o. p o

. Inventor RALPH 0. Z/MMEBMHN,.

arm Wavy 19. M3

Nav. 20, 1945. R. O. ZIMMERMAN 2, 38 9397 FORM FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS Filed June .9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Im/entor RALPH O. Z/MME/B MAN Nov. 20, 1945.

R. o. ZIMMERMAN 2,389,397 FORM FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS Filed June 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lmzentar Em PH 0; Z /MME/8MHN,

I? i, 'H Attorneys Nov. 20, 1945. R. o. ZIMMERMANI 2,389,397

FORM FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS Filed June 9, 1944 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT a. OFFICE assassv FORM soncoivsrnuornvo s'rnrs Ralph Zimmerman, Des Plaines, 111. Application June 9, 1944, Serial No. 539,539 a .(llaiins. (01; 25-118) This invention relates to new and useful improvement in building construction forms and more particularly to a form for use in constructing steps. I

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a form capable of being readily assembled and iust as quickly knocked down when concrete steps have been formed thereby.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a knock down concrete stair form wherein the parts are capable of being quickly connected and disconnected for the purpose of quickly setting up the form for use, and quickly making repairs-to the same in the event of damage and. quickly permitting the removal of the form from the work after the work has been allowed to set.

Another important object-of the invention is to provide for constructing concrete steps capable of being adjusted to construct steps of various sizes.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings; a

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the finished stairway with the hinged stringers remaining in place.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the stair form, the sameserving to show the vconstruction and. arrangement of the riser form,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the form and a stairway after the concrete has been poured.

Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of one of the riser forms.

V Figure 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing a connection between one end of the cross piece and the side-supporting structure.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the pillar forms.

H Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the pillar forms. I

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one ofthe inside step forms.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lowermost inside step form.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the starting structure for the lower step.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the lower inside mold in conjunction with one of the leg structures.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that in the construction of a concrete stairway footings 5 and 6 are provided for the upper and lower ends of the stairway.

Pillar forms generally referred to by numeral i! are employed for constructing pillars uponwhich joist-s or the like 8 can rest, the joists 8, in turn, serving to support a porch floor 9 or the like and acting as the riser .of the uppermost step leading onto the porch floor 9.

Each pillar form 1 consists of four sides 10, i I, I2 and 13. As shown in Figure '6, the sides 12 and I3 are hinged together a at 14. Cleats 15 are provided at the inside .of certain of these sides for the other sides to abut to form a box-like structure shown in Figure 6. Bolts 15 are Provided for securing the remaining sides of the form t0- gether as suggested in Figure 6, the side In hav ing openings 11 therein through which access can be had to the nuts 18 on the bolts 16. Obviously, this construction of pillar form permits the form to be readily set up and just as readily knocked down after the pillar has been formed on the corresponding footing 5. Figure 1 shows a pillar 19 after it has been formed. 7

In starting to et up the stairway form, a starter inside step mold generally referred to by numeral 20 is employed. This mold being in two sections 21, 22, the section 22 overlapping the inner end of the section 2| with its edge portion cut off substantially on a diagonal. The section 22 has a hand receiving opening 23 and each section has a chain link 24 which extends to pass through a corresponding opening 25 and a cross bar 26, the cross bar 26 having pins 21 disposed downwardly through openings 28 in the bar. The openings 28 extend to merge with the corresponding opening 25 and the pin 21 is adapted to be disposed down wardly and through a link of the corresponding chain links 24 as suggested in Figure 10.

The form includes side supporting structures generally referred to by numeral 2-9, an important function of which is to properly support riser forms generally referred to by numeral 30. g

The side support consists of a unit of construction for each riser form 30, each of these units of construction consisting of an elongated panel 3| supporting an overlying similarly constructed panel 32. The panels}! and 32 have opposed plates 33, 34 at certain intervals along their lengths thereof and between which adjust: ing screws 35 are interposed, each adjusting screw being provided with an adjusting nut 36 which can be set to vary the spaced relation between the panels 3|, 32. It will also be observed that the plate 33 has a depressed portion so that access can be obtained to the adjacent nut 36.

The riser forms 30 are connected to the front ends of the side supporting structures 3!, each consisting of an upper bar 31 and a lower bar 38, the bars 31 and 38 having opposed plates 39, 40 with screws 4l interposed between the same. Each screw has an adjusting nut 42 so that the height of the riser form can be readily adjusted. The inner side of the upper edge portion of the bar 31- is, channeled as at 43 to receive the nose former, strip ldatthe upper edge of a backing plate 45 which cooperates with a, backing plate 46 in back of which a valley form 41--is;

ure 4, the side panels 3'! connect by-brackets 48- inclined resting surfaces 13 to permit vertical adjustment, and a connecting strap 14 between the blocks 1 I, I2.

Suitable space filler strips 16 are provided between the inside step forms.

Valley forms 1'! are provided on the side supporting structures 29 as suggested in Figure 10 for forming valleys 18 in the finished stair construction (see Figure 1).

Obviously, with the form set up ,as shown in Figure 3, the concrete 'isj'poured andassumes the position shown in Figure 3'." The top surface of @the concrete, that is the tread surfaces can be "troweled off as soon as the concrete has sufiicientto the bars 38 by way of bolts 49-whilethe-upperv panels 32 connect to the bars 31 by bolts 50.

Referring back to the crossbar '26tshownfiri' Figures 5 and 10, it will be observed that this cross bar 26 has apertured knuckles 5| atthe endszthereof for disposition through corresponding apertured -ears:52;on--thel lowermost panels 3| so that the removable pins 53 can be disposed therethrough to hold this cross bar in proper position; t. l r 1 V "Thexform is further made up of a plurality of secondarylinside step molds. 54 which are arranged upwardly and steppedrba'ckwardly from the first mold 20. a 1 v The uppermost seco'ndarydnside step mold 54 is connected to an-.extension..orabridge 55 by a filler form 56 which serves to'fill the gap between the uppermost form 54 and the extension 55.

"Runners 5 extend between the ends of the inside step forms and the side supporting structures 29 to prevent concrete fromdropping from the assembled form,- these runners each consisting-of an elongated member 58 having upper and lower hinged members 59, 60, the upper member 59 being horizontally disposed and hingedly connected as at El to the upper end of the elongated member whilethe lower member 60 is hingedly secured as at 62'to the elongated intermediate member and servesto form a supporting leg.

Covers 63, 64'are provided for the hinged connections 6! and 62 so that concrete cannot get thereins" 1 "Supporting legsgenerally referred to by numeral- 65 and varying in length according to the positionused are employed. The lowermost leg 66 need not be constructed in hinged sections, but legs '61, 88 and 69 and longer: legsthan these if used; would be constructed in-sections, such as the sections a,b hingedly'connected together as ate ll r Obviously, the legs are bolted in place as clearly suggested in Figure 3 to horizontal cross bars 66*," 61, 68', 69'. Th'e'le'gs 66, 61, 68, 69 extend into the inside 'stepmoldst l and support the same at opposite ends thereof,;and the cross bars 66'; 61', 6 8, 69' extend forwardly into said molds '54 against theironts thereof and prevent said molds from shifting" rearwardly out of place.

Hyl-harde'ned." 1

In the use of this form, it is possible to remove the rise'r'forins 3E and complete the front top surfaces, of the stairway, that is, wherever ny finishingtouches are necessary before the inside mold forms are removed. c. When it is desired, to take care of the structure, the side supporting structures ZQ ar-efirSt disassembled, subsequent to the removalof the riser forms 38, the pillar forms 1 may now be removed and this leaves for removal the inside step forms 29, 55. These forms are simply re moved by displacing the pins 27 from thegcross bar 26, releasing the chains 28, which can be pulled for releasing and displacing the lowermost inside step.iorm 2il Assoon-as thisjorm has been removed,sthe otheriorms will pullout, if notfallout, very easi1y. While the foregoing specification sets-forth the invention in specific terms, it isto be understood that numerous changes in the shape; size. and materials may. be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of theninvention .as claimed hereinafter. a W; 1 x

, Having described the invention, ,what is claimed as new is: 1 1. A concrete stairway form comprisingi riser forms, side.supportingrstructures for then riser forms and insidejstep forms supported by the said side supporting structures; said .side sup? porting structures each including a 'plurality of props each constructed of hinged knock down ections. 1 T I. '12.; 2. A concrete stairway formcomprising-riser forms, side supporting structures for the riser forms and inside step forms supported bythe said side supporting structures, the lowermost inside step form being of telescopic construction and pull members whereby-the lowermost form cam be removed, a cross'member' between the side supporting structures, said pull members consisting of elongated yieldable element's-die posed through openings in the cross memberyand pins disposed through the cross -member" and through the yieldableelements. Y l 3. A concrete stairway form comprising riser forms, side-supporting structures for the riser Horizontal cross bars may be used to connect the legs at, 61; as, 69 at'opposite sides ofthe structure in pairs. Q

It is preferable that leg structure generally referred to bynumeral 16 be usedfor the lower most insidestep-forrn 20, this legfstructure consisting of upper andlowe'r blocks ll, "having 

